I go to Pittsburgh to give a talk at SC 2004.
I encounter Ed Hubbard in the Dallas airport.
No food on the planes, and I arrive hungry.
My hotel (the Omni William Penn) is in a deserted downtown with no Kwikee Marts,
so I get a bowl of chili and a Penn Dark (not recommended)
at the bar downstairs.

<p>
The talk goes OK.
I run into Gilles and Derrick afterwards.
Then I flee the premises and try to find wireless connectivity.
They can pump 20 GB/second through the Internet
(or maybe the name has been changed to GridNet)
but you can't check your email.
A dour conference employee complains bitterly about 'The Foreigners'.

<p>
The hotel has wireless but it doesn't work either.
Since I have nothing else to do,
I call the 800 number and spend an hour
with the spiritless but capable Amber, and finally get it working.

<p>
At 5:30 Bert picks me up and we have dinner at a Japanese place.
Bert inquires about the Shabu-shabu - it's on their menu
but hasn't ever actually been available.
There's always an excuse and a promise.
Today, they say, the pot is missing,
but they expect it to turn up tomorrow.

<p>
We go to the local climbing gym.
The guy who gives belay tests is sick so we settle for bouldering,
which turns out to be quite good.
House rules: unmarked footholds are on,
and they have some VBs (B for beginner).
My lone triumph, a sloth-like heel-hooked traverse,
impresses some climber chicks.
Bert does very well but suffers from some hand/wrist pain.

<p>
We retire to Bert's house.
His dog (Cori) greets me with a battering-ram-like snout to the groin.
We take Cori for a walk,
then have a beer and gab for an hour or two
while Monday Night Football plays in the background.

<p>
Next day it's fairly cold (30s) and people look at my sandaled feet
as if I'm outta my mind.
I get to the airport early,
and enjoy excellent and free wireless access there.